The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-18
The Sword.
From the New Orleans PicayunS;

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From the New Orleans PicayunS:
For thousands Of years and until
the invention Of gunpowder; the
sword was the chief weapon used
in battle. A collection Of the swords
Of all ages and al nations would be
Of extreme interest. It would embraces
the stone swords of the American
aborigines, pointed and double edged,
twenty-five inches long in the blade,
which was with marvellous skill
wrought from flint stone, and of
which one of the most magnificent
specimens extant is in the fine private
museum of DR.. Jones, of this city:
There would be also the bronze sword
OF the early Greeks and ofthe Teuton-
ic races; the short; stout sword of the
Roman, with it's double-edged blade
nineteen inches long, of steel tempered
by Celtiberian smiths, carried to
Italy from the Spanish peninsula;
prominent would be the long two.
handed swords of England in the time
of Richard the Lion, with blades near
ly five feet long, the weapon being
slung to the back and drawn over the
left shoulder. The sword of Richard
naturally suggests the scimiter of
saladin with it's Damascus blade cur
we'd like the crescent it is so ably fought
for. Such g. collection would not be
complete without the sword of the
South Sea islander, made of wood,
its edges set with sharks teeth or
splinters OF obsidian in serrated rows,
terribly formidable when used upon
the naked body OF a foe.
The sword represents so much in
war, history and romance that it
brings up an endless array of interest
ing and imposing events. Allthe early
people used a shield to repel attacks
with the sword, but after the Mid
die Ages the art of fencing, probably
derived from India, was developed to
such a degree that the shield could be
dispensed with, and the sword became
both sword and shield. All the read.
ers OF the Incompatible romances OF
Alexandra Dumas will remember the
phenomenal fencing of the celebrated
guardsmen.
The Orientals are the only people
who specially sharpen their swords.
Their curved blades, made as keen as
razOrs, are terribly formidable to
men not protected by steel armor.
In the celebrated trial of skill between
the English King and the Saracen
Sultan, as related by the immortal
Walter Scott, the English champion
by main force cleft helmets and
chopped through at one blow an iron
mace, while the Saracen, with his
keen blade. cut through shreds OF silk
gauze as they floated through the air.
In regard to the use of sharp blades
for weapons, it is possible that the
Partially of the American negro for a
razor is due to the presence OF the
Oriental passion for keen-bladed
swords: 1t has also been suggested
in this connection that the razor, ex-
cept where special statutes on tbs
subject exist, not being considered a
weapon, could be carried without
suspicion Or hindrance, hence it's use
by the negro. A correspondent from
India, writing to the Eng ish Mechanic
on the wonderful sword practice with
sharp blades; says:
"The quiet dweller in Europe will
scarcely believe the prodigies perform
ed in sword-cuttins by these coarse,
Unlocking bits of curved meta, costing
frequently no more than Is Sd to 2s.
| had shot numerous wild beasts, when
! was told by an expert that my hunt
ing education was very deficient. as l
could not handle scimeter to stop
my game. l was told to exercise con-
tinually on a pillow of soft clay and
thus acquire the drawing cut at the
proper part of the blade; then on a
pillar loosely stuffed with cotton;then
on a newly killed wild cat or jackal,
kneaded previous to the practice by
the feet OF a heavy man till the car
cass became d loose, soft mass, then
on a great pond carp, fish clad with
heavy, horny scales, like elastic mail
considered an Affeat to test man
and sword. NY first trial in this ex-
pertinent resulted in a triple fracture
of the good blade, sundry scales flying
in the air, uncut, only dislodged; then
the artistic tour de force at paper
cones placed on table, and muslin
thrown up to a height-all manner
of strange and difficult tasks,
which. being only ornamental,
l eventually torsook for the
useful and more easy decapitation OF
fierce quadrupeds, beginning with a
wounded wild hog OF full growth, and,
on essaylng the sloping stroke behind
the ear, sweeping off the head neatly,
that important part dropping between
the forefeet: Not long before l had
seen bold young Ghoorka dismount
from his elephant, leaving it standing
to await his return, and follow on
foot alone ali immense boar he had
wounded with his rifle. On nearing
the powerful brute. it champed it's
fomy tusks to. charge. He drew his
pookpee Tor Nepauless sword), and
Us it sprang at him the blade was
buried across piggy's back, all but
severing him in two parts"
The sword in modern warfare is get.
ting to be a mere badge OF office and a
proposition is said some time ago to
have been made to strip the infantry
officer in the French army ofhis sword
and give him something to shoot with.
The manufacture of swords all over
the world is represented to have de.
clined visibly, and it is stated that
there is not in the United States to.
day a single establishment where
sword-blades are made, unless it may
be that sabers for the cavalry are
manufactured III the United States
Armory at Springfield, Mass.
A Remarkable Historic Find.
From the New York Sun.
EIGHT years before Columbus discoY.